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Bill James
William Henry James (Big Bill)
Bats: Both , Throws: Right
Height: 6' 4" , Weight: 195 lb.

Born: January 20, 1887 in Detroit, MI (All Transactions)
Debut: June 12, 1911
Final Game: September 17, 1919
Died: May 25, 1942 in Venice, CA
    About biographical information

Standard Pitching

More Stats

Glossary · Click headers to sort · SHARE  · CSV · PRE · LINK · Click rows to sum (Clear) · Hide Partial Seasons
Year Age Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB Awards
1911 24 CLE AL 2 4 .333 4.88 8 6 0 4 0 0 51.2 58 37 28 1 32 21 2 1 2 238 70 1.742 10.1 0.2 5.6 3.7 0.66
1912 25 CLE AL 0 0 4.61 3 0 1 0 0 0 13.2 15 11 7 0 9 5 0 0 0 61 75 1.756 9.9 0.0 5.9 3.3 0.56
1914 27 SLB AL 15 14 .517 2.85 44 35 7 20 3 1 284.0 269 121 90 4 109 109 6 0 11 1162 95 1.331 8.5 0.1 3.5 3.5 1.00
1915 28 TOT AL 14 13 .519 3.26 45 32 7 11 1 1 237.1 212 115 86 3 125 82 7 0 6 976 89 1.420 8.0 0.1 4.7 3.1 0.66
1915 28 SLB AL 7 10 .412 3.59 34 23 5 8 0 1 170.1 155 89 68 2 92 58 7 0 5 708 80 1.450 8.2 0.1 4.9 3.1 0.63
1915 28 DET AL 7 3 .700 2.42 11 9 2 3 1 0 67.0 57 26 18 1 33 24 0 0 1 268 125 1.343 7.7 0.1 4.4 3.2 0.73
1916 29 DET AL 8 12 .400 3.68 30 20 4 8 0 1 151.2 141 76 62 1 79 61 11 1 6 642 78 1.451 8.4 0.1 4.7 3.6 0.77
1917 30 DET AL 13 10 .565 2.09 34 23 5 10 2 1 198.0 163 71 46 2 96 62 12 0 2 830 126 1.308 7.4 0.1 4.4 2.8 0.65
1918 31 DET AL 6 11 .353 3.76 19 18 1 8 1 0 122.0 127 68 51 3 68 42 5 0 2 546 71 1.598 9.4 0.2 5.0 3.1 0.62
1919 32 TOT AL 7 7 .500 3.71 20 13 4 7 2 0 121.1 125 60 50 2 60 26 5 0 3 503 83 1.525 9.3 0.1 4.5 1.9 0.43
1919 32 DET AL 1 0 1.000 5.79 2 1 0 0 0 0 9.1 12 6 6 0 7 3 0 0 1 42 55 2.036 11.6 0.0 6.8 2.9 0.43
1919 32 BOS AL 3 5 .375 4.09 13 7 4 4 0 0 72.2 74 42 33 2 39 12 3 0 2 306 74 1.555 9.2 0.2 4.8 1.5 0.31
1919 32 CHW AL 3 2 .600 2.52 5 5 0 3 2 0 39.1 39 12 11 0 14 11 2 0 0 155 127 1.347 8.9 0.0 3.2 2.5 0.79
8 Seasons 65 71 .478 3.20 203 147 29 68 9 4 1179.2 1110 559 420 16 578 408 48 2 32 4958 88 1.431 8.5 0.1 4.4 3.1 0.71
162 Game Avg. 13 14 .478 3.20 39 29 6 13 2 1 229 216 109 82 3 112 79 9 0 6 963 88 1.431 8.5 0.1 4.4 3.1 0.71
DET (5 yrs) 35 36 .493 3.01 96 71 12 29 4 2 548.0 500 247 183 7 283 192 28 1 12 2328 92 1.429 8.2 0.1 4.6 3.2 0.68
CLE (2 yrs) 2 4 .333 4.82 11 6 1 4 0 0 65.1 73 48 35 1 41 26 2 1 2 299 71 1.745 10.1 0.1 5.6 3.6 0.63
SLB (2 yrs) 22 24 .478 3.13 78 58 12 28 3 2 454.1 424 210 158 6 201 167 13 0 16 1870 88 1.376 8.4 0.1 4.0 3.3 0.83
BOS (1 yr) 3 5 .375 4.09 13 7 4 4 0 0 72.2 74 42 33 2 39 12 3 0 2 306 74 1.555 9.2 0.2 4.8 1.5 0.31
CHW (1 yr) 3 2 .600 2.52 5 5 0 3 2 0 39.1 39 12 11 0 14 11 2 0 0 155 127 1.347 8.9 0.0 3.2 2.5 0.79

Postseason Pitching

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Year Age Tm Lg Series Rslt Opp W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
1919 32 CHW AL WS L CIN 0 0 5.79 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.2 8 4 3 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 23 2.357 15.4 0.0 5.8 3.9 0.67
1 WS 0 0 5.79 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.2 8 4 3 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 23 2.357 15.4 0.0 5.8 3.9 0.67

Standard Batting

More Stats

Glossary · Click headers to sort · SHARE  · CSV · PRE · LINK · Click rows to sum (Clear) · Hide Partial Seasons
Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
1911 24 CLE AL 8 19 17 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .059 .111 .118 .229 -36 2 0 1 /1
1912 25 CLE AL 3 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .250 .000 .250 -28 0 0 1 /1
1914 27 SLB AL 44 97 89 4 10 1 1 0 2 1 2 4 38 .112 .151 .146 .297 -9 13 0 4 1
1915 28 TOT AL 45 78 63 6 14 3 0 0 4 0 6 24 .222 .310 .270 .580 74 17 2 7 1
1915 28 SLB AL 34 52 42 2 8 2 0 0 2 0 3 18 .190 .261 .238 .499 52 10 1 6 1
1915 28 DET AL 11 26 21 4 6 1 0 0 2 0 3 6 .286 .400 .333 .733 115 7 1 1 1
1916 29 DET AL 30 53 44 3 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 24 .068 .128 .068 .196 -42 3 0 6 1
1917 30 DET AL 34 69 57 7 12 0 0 0 2 0 10 20 .211 .328 .211 .539 65 12 0 2 1
1918 31 DET AL 19 47 46 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 .109 .128 .130 .258 -21 6 0 0 1
1919 32 TOT AL 20 45 39 4 6 0 0 0 2 0 1 11 .154 .195 .154 .349 -0 6 1 4 1
1919 32 DET AL 2 4 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .250 .250 .250 .500 42 1 0 0 /1
1919 32 BOS AL 13 26 21 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 7 .143 .217 .143 .360 5 3 1 3 1
1919 32 CHW AL 5 15 14 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .143 .143 .143 .286 -20 2 0 1 /1
8 Seasons 203 413 358 25 51 6 1 0 12 1 2 27 129 .142 .209 .165 .374 12 59 3 25
162 Game Avg. 162 330 286 20 41 5 1 0 10 1 22 .142 .209 .165 .374 12 47 2 20
DET (5 yrs) 96 199 172 15 27 2 0 0 6 0 17 64 .157 .237 .169 .405 22 29 1 9
CLE (2 yrs) 11 24 20 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 .050 .136 .100 .236 -34 2 0 2
SLB (2 yrs) 78 149 131 6 18 3 1 0 4 1 2 7 56 .137 .187 .176 .363 11 23 1 10
BOS (1 yr) 13 26 21 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 7 .143 .217 .143 .360 5 3 1 3
CHW (1 yr) 5 15 14 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .143 .143 .143 .286 -20 2 0 1

Postseason Batting

Glossary · Click headers to sort · SHARE  · CSV · PRE · LINK
Year Age Tm Lg Series Opp Rslt G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
1919 32 CHW AL WS CIN L 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 WS 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0

Standard Fielding

More Stats

Glossary · Click headers to sort · SHARE  · CSV · PRE · LINK · Hide Partial Seasons
Year Tm Lg Age Pos G GS Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/9 RF/G lgFld% lgRF9 lgRFG Awards
1911 CLE AL 24 P 8 16 4 11 1 0 .938 1.88 .938 1.89
1912 CLE AL 25 P 3 6 1 2 3 0 .500 1.00 .967 1.93
1914 SLB AL 27 P 44 119 11 105 3 5 .975 2.64 .934 1.74
1915 TOT AL 28 P 45 106 14 84 8 3 .925 2.18 .938 1.80
1915 SLB AL 28 P 34 76 12 58 6 2 .921 2.06 .938 1.80
1915 DET AL 28 P 11 30 2 26 2 1 .933 2.55 .937 1.80
1916 DET AL 29 P 30 56 4 46 6 1 .893 1.67 .948 1.69
1917 DET AL 30 P 34 70 4 61 5 1 .929 1.91 .949 1.83
1918 DET AL 31 P 19 49 5 43 1 3 .980 2.53 .951 1.85
1919 TOT AL 32 P 20 43 7 32 4 2 .907 1.95 .951 1.76
1919 DET AL 32 P 2 3 1 2 0 0 1.000 1.50 .933 1.75
1919 BOS AL 32 P 13 30 4 23 3 2 .900 2.08 .950 1.76
1919 CHW AL 32 P 5 10 2 7 1 0 .900 1.80 .950 1.76
8 Seasons P 203 465 50 384 31 15 .933 2.14 .942 1.78
8 Seasons TOT 203 465 50 384 31 15 .933 2.14 .876 1.78

Appearances on Leader Boards, Awards, and Honors

Stats are Year-Value-Rank, Glossary

Earned Run Average s c a p y
1917 AL--2.091--8th
Career--3.204--246th

Hits per 9 IP s c a p y
1917 AL--7.409--8th

Games Played s c a p y
1914 AL--44--8th
1915 AL--45--8th

Innings Pitched s c a p y
1914 AL--284.0--6th

Games Started s c a p y
1914 AL--35--4th
1915 AL--32--10th

Complete Games s c a p y
1914 AL--20--5th

Home Runs s c a p y
1914 AL--4--8th
1918 AL--3--7th

Bases on Balls s c a p y
1914 AL--109--4th
1915 AL--125--3rd
1917 AL--96--6th

Hits s c a p y
1914 AL--269--3rd

Home Runs per 9 IP s c a p y
Career--.122--60th

Earned Runs s c a p y
1914 AL--90--3rd
1915 AL--86--6th

Wild Pitches s c a p y
1914 AL--11--3rd
1915 AL--6--9th

Hit By Pitch s c a p y
1916 AL--11--3rd
1917 AL--12--3rd

Batters Faced s c a p y
1914 AL--1162--6th

Adjusted ERA+ s c a p y
1917 AL--126--8th

             

Hall Of Fame Statistics

Player rank in (·)

Gray InkPitching - 15 (1220), Average HOFer ≈ 185
Hall of Fame MonitorPitching - 5 (1252), Likely HOFer ≈ 100
Hall of Fame StandardsPitching - 8 (996), Average HOFer ≈ 50

Similarity Scores

Explanation of Similarity Scores
Similar Pitchers 
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 Compare Stats to Similars
  1. Johnny Niggeling (975)
  2. Doc Scanlan (972)
  3. Bert Gallia (966)
  4. Elmer Knetzer (963)
  5. Jimmy Lavender (960)
  6. Ed Daily (953)
  7. Leon Cadore (951)
  8. Fred Beebe (947)
  9. Johnny Rigney (947)
  10. Orval Grove (946)
Most Similar by Ages 
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  1. Kirby White (986)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  2. Dick Woodson (979)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  3. Ed Lafitte (969)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  4. Charley Hall (956)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  5. Togie Pittinger (962)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  6. Leon Cadore (952)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C

Transactions

September 1, 1910: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs from Jackson (Southern Michigan) in the 1910 rule 5 draft.

Before 1911 Season: Sent from the Chicago Cubs to the Cleveland Naps in an unknown transaction.

September 15, 1913: Drafted by the St. Louis Browns from Portland (PCL) in the 1913 rule 5 draft.

August 18, 1915: Traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Detroit Tigers for Baby Doll Jacobson and $15,000.

May 24, 1919: Purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Detroit Tigers.

August 18, 1919: Selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox from the Boston Red Sox.

The transaction information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. Last transaction is September 30, 2009.

Other Resources & Links

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Viewed 27,453 times through November 22, 2009.
Name and misspellings: Big William Will William Henry billy Bill James jimmie jimmy jim

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